Bernardino da Corte

Bernardino da Corte was the head of the Merchants' Guild of Milan. In 1499, da Corte and several other merchant leaders were invited to meet with Cesare Borgia, whose mercenary army of 300 troops was besieging the city at the start of the Italian War of 1499-1504. Da Corte was stubborn at first, saying that he came only to pledge his allegiance to the Sforza family, which provided peace and prosperity to the people of Milan, but Borgia offered to cut the Milanese merchants' taxes by 50% and to allow for them to profiteer from the war. Da Corte demanded more, so Borgia stuffed his face with food and nearly smothered him with the food on his plate, but he let him spit out the food. Da Corte agreed to submit to Borgia, fearing his own death and the destruction of Milan's cathedral and university, and he presented the keys of the city to him the next day.